Conference League Trophy, Chelsea's Perfect Completion

WROCLAW, THURSDAY — Todd Boehly's significant investment in Chelsea has finally borne fruit in its third year. The UEFA Europa Conference League trophy marks the first achievement for "The Blues" since the American billionaire took over the club. After falling behind, Chelsea surged in the second half, ultimately winning 4-1 against Real Betis in the final held at Tarczynski Arena on Thursday (29/5/2025) early morning WIB.

The success of lifting the UEFA Conference League trophy has made Chelsea the only team capable of winning five major European tournaments to date. Previously, Chelsea had already won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the Cup Winners' Cup (last held in 1999), and the UEFA Super Cup. Therefore, the Conference League trophy, which was obtained after defeating Betis, serves as a complement to Chelsea's perfection on the European stage.

"I have often said this season, this tournament is something we must win," said Chelsea's right-back and captain, Reece James.

As James stated, this trophy must be achieved by them, even though the Conference League is not Chelsea's natural habitat. Because, only by winning the Conference League, Chelsea still has a chance to end the season with a trophy. "The Blues" failed in the FA Cup and the English League Cup. Meanwhile, in the English Premier League, Chelsea did not become champions but managed to finish in fourth place, which is the Champions League zone.

However, this mission faces a tough test from Betis, which is also eager to win the Conference League. This final is everything for Betis. Since its establishment 118 years ago, Betis has won one La Liga title and three Copa del Rey trophies. The trophy for European club tournaments is the only thing they have never won.

It is not surprising that from the very beginning of the match, the Betis players were so eager to play aggressively against Chelsea, who have a better quality of players. The efforts of the team coached by Manuel Pellegrini paid off when the match had only been underway for nine minutes.

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Isco, showcased his playing vision. Surrounded by two Chelsea players, Isco was still able to think calmly before passing the ball to Abde Ezzalzouli, who then scored from inside the penalty area.

Chelsea's efforts to score an equalizing goal in the first half were thwarted. Under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea is a highly disciplined team in the process of building attacks. They are not the typical team that tends to rely on direct balls forward, but rather patiently build their attacks from the back.

This tendency is what Pellegrini observed. He instructed the Betis players to continuously pressure the opponent's efforts to build an attack. Six front players of Betis simultaneously moved across the field and actively obstructed Chelsea's passing lanes.

By halting efforts to build aggressive attacks against Chelsea, Betis successfully disrupted their patient gameplay. Betis's pressure forced Chelsea players to make hasty decisions, leading to mistakes in passing.

Statistics show that Chelsea was outperformed in terms of shots on goal in the first half. They recorded only four attempts, with just one of them on target. Meanwhile, Betis made seven attempts, two of which were on target.

The situation turned around in the second half. Maresca's decision to bring in James proved to be effective. James's presence allowed Chelsea to be more composed while in possession of the ball. On the other hand, Betis began to physically weaken. As a result, they could not maintain the pressing intensity as they had in the first half.

Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer also gained momentum to change the outcome of the match. With physical endurance and stamina beginning to wane, Palmer's movements were difficult for the Betis defenders to stop. Palmer cleverly delivered a precise pass to Enzo, who ran through the opponent's defense and scored with a header in the 65th minute.

Enzo's goal shook the psychology of the Betis players. Their confidence collapsed instantly. The championship trophy that was within reach seemed to vanish. Five minutes later, Palmer once again showcased his magic by delivering a cross to Nicolas Jackson, enabling Chelsea to turn the situation around.

After being breached twice in such a short time, Betis' defense lost its solidity. They are now easily penetrated by Chelsea. Jadon Sancho, who came on as a substitute, reinforced Chelsea's advantage with his goal in the 83rd minute. In added time, Moises Caicedo added to Betis' suffering by scoring with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.

"We played very well in the first half, and in the second half, they played better and scored a goal that led them to win the match. The season in which we qualified for Europe and reached the final is a step forward, and I believe the fans agree," said Pellegrini.

Despite suffering a heavy defeat, Betis fans remained resilient by applauding and supporting the players on the field after the match concluded. The motto of this club from Andalusia, Spain, is "Viva el Betis manquepierda," which translates to "Long live Betis even if football ceases to exist."

Being a supporter of Betis is not about achieving glorious victories, but rather about embracing the collective journey and accepting failures with a smile. (REUTERS)